East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Shortgate
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Shortgate and East Sussex, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Big birthdays
Planning an event in Shortgate?
Questions from Shortgate
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Shortgate?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shortgate.
How does live paella catering work?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Paella catering in Shortgate, cooked live
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella, and we’re often booked for community events and fairs and anniversaries and engagement parties.
In a small place like Shortgate, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Where
- Shortgate (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Who books paella catering in Shortgate?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Shortgate book us for events such as:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Nearby historic houses include Glyndebourne (3.5 miles south-west) and Glynde Place (4 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- How late numbers can change
Shortgate: venues, travel and local tips
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Events in Shortgate are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Uckfield station is about 3.9 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Shortgate, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in BN8, we can bring paella catering to you. For events just outside Shortgate, we cover Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). Not far away are Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Planning an evening event in Shortgate? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Towns and villages near Shortgate
Also in Shortgate
Paella compared with other options
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
What paella catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Travel, parking and access
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and time of the event
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff